Published: 06:12 EST, 27 February 2020 | Updated: 07:54 EST, 27 February 2020
Pope Francis has missed a planned Mass with Rome clergy due to illness.
The Vatican said the 83-year-old pontiff had a 'slight indisposition' and would proceed with the rest of his planned work on Thursday but Francis 'preferred to stay near Santa Marta', the Vatican hotel where he lives.
There was no word from the Vatican about the nature of his illness, but the pope was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday Mass.
Pope Francis has cancelled an event at the Vatican due to a 'slight illness', a day after he was pictured coughing and blowing his nose during Ash Wednesday Mass
Earlier in the day Francis had met with crowds in St Peter's Square where he touched hands and kissed faces, despite warnings over coronavirus
Northern Italy is currently in the grips of a coronavirus outbreak, which has spread across the country. Cases have been confirmed in Rome, where the Vatican is located
He was also pictured touching people's hands and kissing their heads as he walked among crowds in St Peter's Square.
It comes amid an outbreak of the strain of coronavirus – also known as Covid-19 – in Italy that has infected more than 400 people, almost all of them in the north. Rome had three cases, but all three were cured.
Francis had been scheduled to go to the St John Lateran basilica to meet with Rome clergy and celebrate a penitential Mass at the start of Lent.
Francis is bishop of Rome, but delegates the day-to-day running of the archdiocese to a vicar.
The Argentine pope has generally enjoyed good health. He lost part of one lung as a young man because of a respiratory illness, and suffers from sciatica, which makes walking difficult.
Francis has had a busy schedule lately, including his public general audience on Wednesday and the Ash Wednesday service later in the day in a Roman basilica.
The Vatican said that Francis would continue with the rest of his work on Thursday, but cancelled a meeting with priests because he preferred to stay at home (pictured meeting crowds on Wednesday)
Pope Francis poses with faithful from Iraq in St. Peter's Square during his weekly audience
Several people in the crowd wore face masks to protect themselves against infection as they waited to see Francis on Wednesday
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